The vulnerable C-domain

The purpose of this article is to document the existence of a group of natu ral language speakers who display non-target-like production of the syntax at the highest structural level, the C-domain, but produce the syntax of lo wer structural levels in a target-like way. This group consists of very ear ly L1 learners, children with Specific Language impairment, adult L2 learne rs, and patients with Broca's aphasia. The group is established on the basi s of data from Swedish and German, but can presumably be discerned for any language. The assumption that the non-target-like production of C-domain sy ntax is related to Broca's area is discussed, as are some consequences for modem syntactic theory. (C) 2001 Academic Press